Wake Forest is back at Allegacy Stadium after a thrilling win against the Boilermakers, and the next test is a heavy one. The Demon Deacons are set to host the reigning national runner-ups on Friday night, and Miami arrives with plenty of names worth tracking.
The Hurricanes’ offense starts with Darian Mensah, who has opened the season without throwing an interception while piling up eight passing touchdowns. Last season, Mensah guided the Duke Blue Devils to the ACC Championship and walked away with the MVP trophy from the title game. He has already shown he knows how to win.
Then there’s Malachi Toney, who has become a household name in college football. He leads all of Division I in receptions and has been one of the most heavily targeted receivers in the country.
Toney is the kind of player who can stress any defensive back, and he enters the season looking to raise his draft stock. For Miami, he is the X-factor.
The Hurricanes also bring plenty of punch on the ground with Mark Fletcher Jr. Last season, Fletcher Jr. averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and his workload is expected to grow as the season moves along. Wake Forest saw Purdue run the ball effectively last week, so cleaning that up will matter before lining up against Fletcher Jr.
Up front, Ahmad Moten Sr. brings size and power at 6'3 300 pounds. He spent last season playing behind some of the best rushers in college football, and now he has a chance to make his own name. Friday night gives him a clear opportunity to do it, and Wake Forest will need to keep an eye on #99.
Miami’s pass rush is another problem. Damon Wilson II is coming off a breakout season at Missouri and has transferred to the U, where expectations are high. The Hurricanes’ pressure package is described as lethal, and that could create a major issue for a Demon Deacons offensive line that already has trouble to solve.
Special teams also has a name to know: Jake Weinberg. He struggled with accuracy in previous seasons and finished last year at FSU with a 63.2% field goal percentage after scoring 82 points. But since transferring to Miami, he has started perfectly, matching his career-long kick on his only attempt this season.
Miami looks like a tough draw for Wake Forest, and the matchup has upset potential. For the Deacs, the formula is simple: stay composed, play with confidence, and keep reading the Rival Report.
In Other News...
Wake Forest Womens Golf Comes Up Just Short In Title Match
Wake Forests womens golf team had a chance to leave PGA Frisco with a trophy Wednesday, but the seventh-ranked Demon Deacons fell to No. 11 South Carolina, 3-1, in the championship round of the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in Frisco, Texas. It was a clean reminder of how narrow match play can be, with every point carrying extra weight once the bracket reaches the title round.
The result still says plenty about where Wake Forest stands this fall. Getting all the way to the final put the Demon Deacons in position to measure themselves against one of the countrys best, and the matchup with South Carolina offered another high-end test against a ranked opponent. Now the focus shifts to what Wake Forest takes from a week that ended one step short of the title. [Read more 🡒]